Improveivlent in safety-guards for railroads



C. LATIMERQv f Safety-Guards for Railroads. No. 137,694, PafentdAprilJmm z w72 22224. 'l g hm f" f/er/ i tion of the lifters.

Unrrnn SfrnrnsPafrnNr @rrlcn CHARLES LATIMER, orsr. Josnrn, Mrcnienn.

IMPROVEMENT IN SAFETV-GUARDS FQR RAILROADS.

Specication forming part of Letters PatentNo. l'g, dated April 8, 1873; application filed E..

May 4, 1871.

To all 'whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, CHARLES LATIMER, of St. Joseph, in the county of Berrien and State of Michigan, have invented a certain Safety- Guard for Railroad Trains, of which t-he following is a specification:

Nature and Object of thc Invention.

between them at one or both ends, or in the center of a curve or bridge. The said platform is provided with guides of even height there with, which are united at either end of the platform and prolonged on the center of the track a desired distance. About the center of the platform, between it and the rails, are placed bars of proper dimensions, ofless height than the platform, grooved on the side toward the rails, and having an upward and outward transverse inclination at each end. Opposite these, outside of land corresponding in height with the rails, are placed the other bars, which have ateach end an upward and transverse inward inclination.

Description of the Accompanying Draw-ing.

Figure l is a plan View of a device embodying the elements of the invention. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of same, showing the inclina- Fig. 3 is a vertical tra-nsverse section through the line x. Fig. 4 is a similar view through the line z a. Fig. 5 is a side elevation with certain parts broken out.

General Description.

A in the accompanying drawing are the rails of a railway, between which, as shown, is constructed the platform B, of wood or any other suitable material, and of a lozenge or diamond shapeathat is, tapering toa point at each endon a line with the center of the track.

The platform is of somewhat greater height than the rails, and is faced on its sides with the guides C, which are composed of bars of metal or other suitable material firmly secured in a vertical position to the backing, and are or may be inclined at their upper edges toward the platform, at each end whereof' they are, united into the single guiderail or prolongation D of the same height as the platform B, and extending upon the central line of the track a proper distance. The space between the guides C is filled with a backing of timber or other suitable material of even height with the guides, and is intended to support the wheel or wheels should the truck run off the rails at a point adjacent to the platform;

v and also to brace the guides one against the other, thus rendering the entire construction compact and capable of resisting lateral pressure. The center of the platform B forms on each side an obtuse angle, adjacent to which and between which andthe rails are placed the bars or lifters E, which are of less height than the platform B, widest at their ends, and correspondingly decreasing in width until they per surfaces iiush with the rail, and their ends having an upward and transverse inclination, the latter being toward the rail. The guides G are formed with plain surfaces, that form being preferable to the'ordinary T-rail, as being less liable to catch snow.

It is obvious that the device may be divided at its center and one section placed at each end of the curve or bridge.

is guided by the contact of the wheels with the guide-rail D and guides C until they reach the inclines at the end of the litters E and F,

up which they ride, bein g directed on each side toward the rails, the wheels outside the track running upon the top of the lifter F, while the nanges of the other Wheels, being in contact with the guides C or lifter E, draw the opposite Wheels constantly toward the track until the obtuse angle of the platform B is reached, when the ange of the opposite wheel is drawn over the rail and drops into the channel between the lifter E and the rail, While the other Wheels pass at once upon their rail7 thus re.-

tracking the car-truck.

Claims.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The platform B provided with the guides C, in combination with the lifters E and F7 substantially as shown and described.

2. The guide-rail D, for the uses and purposes substantially as shown and described.

3. The platform B provided With the guides C, in combination With the lifters E and F and guide-rail D, substantially as shown and described. i

C. LATIMER.

' Witnesses:

A. H. MORRISON, R. A. STILL. 

